Welcome back to Part II of our conversation with Brant Hysell. Climber, olive mafia boss, and man behind The Gravity Lab YouTube channel. If you missed Part I, I highly recommend checking it out before continuing here.

Today, it’s story time with Brant as we dive into three of his most memorable climbs: Freestone, Lurking Fear, and his recent solo ascent of the Salathé. Most of us would spend months, if not years, meticulously planning and training for objectives like these. But for Brant, these climbs were more about stepping into the unknown and leaving room for the unexpected.

To me, this reveals two important things about Brant. First, he’s an incredibly strong climber with a solid foundation to fall back on. Second, Brant climbs for the adventure. For him, too much planning, research, and preparation take away from the magic that climbing offers. He’d rather pack the essentials, sans headlamps,  and figure the rest out in the moment. Brant’s approach to climbing is raw and real—creating the chaotic, often messy adventures that truly shape a climber.

His mindset challenges the belief that every climb needs to be meticulously planned and perfectly executed. This way of thinking doesn’t just apply to climbing—it’s a lesson in life.

Embrace the chaos, trust in your abilities, and honor the legacies that inspire you. In doing so, you’ll find that the most meaningful experiences are often the ones you least expect.

Finally we close the conversation with the details surrounding Brants recent solo speed record of the Salathe Wall, a record that stood undefeated for 10 years! While Brant was only able to hold the title briefly…. before Alex Honnold came to the valley and stole the record a few weeks later, he reflects on the experience with humility and pride. . As he puts it; he is proud to have his name up next to one of the greatest climbers in the world…to have your record taken from someone like Alex…honestly feels pretty good”.

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Resources

The Gravity Lab Youtube Channel

Brant's Instagram

Brant Hysell's Mt. Project Profile

Climbing Alone on El Cap - A Short Film